Inflatable hoop/basket/goal

ABSTRACT

A free standing, upright sports goal structure ( 10 ) having a plurality of inflatable bladders to form the framework ( 19 ) of a standing goal structure, together with an outer casing ( 25 ) of non-elastic material which encloses the inflatable framework ( 19 ) and serves to form a strong rigid goal structure ( 10 ) which is useful in a plurality of sports, yet which can quickly and easily be erected or collapsed for convenient transportation and storage.

[0001] This application is a continuation of my provisional patentapplication number 60/262,793, filing date Jan. 22, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This invention relates to inflatable structures and isparticularly directed to portable inflatable structures for indoor andoutdoor use as a sports goal, hoop, or basket.

[0004] 2. Prior Art

[0005] In the past there have been numerous types of inflatable objects,such as balloons, simulated furniture, and various types of flotationdevices. This invention is of an upright, free standing, inflatablegoal, hoop or basket. It is composed of inflatable portions which areinterconnected and include four equally spaced legs. Each leg in turn isconnected by an arched section. Each arched section is attached to thecircular hoop or goal creating one complete structure. A mesh netting isattached to the interior circumference of the circular hoop, hangingfrom the hoop or basket.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an inflatablesports goal which is strong and rigid when erected.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a freestanding, upright sports goal which is strong and rigid when erected,yet which can quickly and easily be disassembled for portability andstorage.

[0008] An additional object of the present invention is to provide afree standing, upright sports goal comprising an inflatable framework,together with a casing formed of non-elastic material, to form a sportsgoal which is strong and rigid when erected, yet which can quickly andeasily be disassembled for portability or storage.

[0009] A specific object of the present invention is to provide a freestanding, upright sports goal structure having a plurality of inflatabletubes joined to form the framework of a free standing, upright goalstructure, together with an outer casing of non-elastic material whichencloses the inflatable framework and serves to form a strong rigid goalstructure which is useful in a plurality of sports that would includebasketball, soccer or any ball game played with the goal, yet which canquickly and easily be erected or collapsed for convenient transportationand storage, together with an improved method of manufacturing the same.

[0010] These and other objects and features of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description, taken withreference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a front view of a sports goal embodying the presentinvention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cut out side view of the sports goal of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the sports goal of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the inflatable framework forthe sports goal of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the sports goal of FIG. 1 showingthe zippers for the insertion of the inflatable bladders.

[0016]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the sports goal showing theinflation/deflation valve locations.

[0017]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the sports goal of FIG. 1 showingthe goal, free standing and upright ready for use.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a top view of the sports goal ready to receive a ball(Any type) into the round goal area.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a side view of the free standing, upright goal with aball (Any type) approaching the hoop or goal area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes ofillustration, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show a sports goal, indicated generallyat 10, having four vertical arches with slanted legs 11, with eachindividual leg joining 12 equally and laterally with the individual legthat corresponds to it realative to the four points that create thesquare shape at the base from the eight legs of the arches 11. Theillustration of FIG. 3 shows the top view of the sports goal asgenerally indicated at 13, where the joining of the large inflatablehoop 14 to the very top of each arch with slanted legs 11 is seen ateach individual corresponding place 15. The illustration of FIG. 2 showsa cut out side view of the sports goal as generally indicated at 16,where the position of the joining between the large inflatable hoop 14and the open ended tubular shaped netting 17 is clearly shown at 18where it hugs the inner radious of the large inflatable hoop 14.

[0021] To provide for quick and easy erection and disassembly to aconvient size for portability and storage, the sports goal 10 is formedof an inflatable framework, indicated generally at 19 in FIGS. 4, 5, and6 and comprising of five inflatable bladders, as seen at 20, 21, 22, 23,and 24, respectively, together with a casing 25 formed of non-elasticmaterial and carrying the open ended tubular shaped netting 17.

[0022] The casing 25 has slits 26 provided at convenient locationsequally upon each individual arch with slanted legs 11, as seen in FIG.1 to allow inflatable bladders 20, 21, 22, and 23 of framework 19 to beinserted therein. The casing 25 has a slit 27 provided at a convenientlocation upon the large inflatable hoop 14 as seen in FIG. 3 to allowfor the inflatable bladder 24 of framework 19 to be inserted therein.Because casing 25 is formed of non-elastic material, it will form astrong and rigid structure when inflatable framework 19 is inserted andinflated.

[0023] At the same time, sports goal 10 can quickly and easily beerected or disassembled, when desired, for portability and storage, and,once disassembled, will occupy a minimum of space. Also, sports goal 10is extremely light and buoyant and, hence, will float on water for usein water basketball and other water sports. Finally, if desired, flapswith hooks 28, 29, 30, and 31 may be provided adjacent the respectivepairs of legs 11 of casing 25 to receive suitable weights within vinylbags, such as stones, sand, and the like to weigh the sports goal to theground in a desired location.

[0024] When deflated, inflatable framework 19 and casing 25 can befolded and stored in a minimum of space and will be quite light, so thatsports goal 10 can easily be transported in a suitable carrying case,not shown, to a desired location. At the desired location, inflatablebladders 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 can be inflated and assembled insidecasing 25 and deflated as one complete assembly. Next, the assembledinflatable network 19 can be inserted into slots 26 and 27 of casing 25to form sports goal 10, as seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Finally, sportsgoal 10 can be oriented as desired, and suitable means such as weightscan be applied to the flaps 28, 29, 30, and 31 to weigh down the sportsgoal 10 in a desired position.

[0025] Odviously, numerous other variations and modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit of the present invention.Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the presentinvention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanyingdrawing, are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scopeof this invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0026] Once inflated and assembled, sports goal/hoop is quite rigid andwill be extremely strong. Odviously, sports goal/hoop can be mounted ondirt, sand, gymnasium, grass or paved surfaces, as desired, for use withbasketball, soccer or any type balls. Alternatively, because frameworkis inflatable, it is also capable of floating on water. Therefore,sports goal/hoop can be used for water sports, in addition to its use onland.

1. An inflatable tubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal, comprisinginflatable tubular members when inflated, in a use position toconstitute four spaced tubular uprights joined by a round tubular centerring suitable to define a goal mouth. So arranged as to provide supportfor the total structure that allows the framework structure to beself-supporting in the said use position.
 2. An inflatable tubularframework sports hoop,/basket,/goal, as claimed in claim 1 comprisingfour arched tubular members, a tubular center ring joining all fourarched tubular legs:
 3. An inflatable tubular framework sportshoop,/basket,/goal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein areasbounded by the tubular center ring are occupied by netting.
 4. Aninflatable tubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal, of claim 1wherein: an outer casing of non-elastic material enclosing saidinflatable framework.
 5. The inflatable tubular framework sportshoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1 wherein: said sports goal is in the formof a free standing, upright, hoop, goal, or basket.
 6. The inflatabletubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1 wherein: saidinflatable framework is formed of a plurality of inflatable bladders toform said framework.
 7. The inflatable tubular framework sportshoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1 wherein: said casing is formed with aplurality of slots to allow insertion of said framework.
 8. Theinflatable tubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1wherein: said sports goal is capable of floating on water.
 9. Theinflatable tubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1wherein: said casing is formed of non-elastic material.
 10. Theinflatable tubular framework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 9wherein: said non-elastic material is fabric.
 11. The inflatable tubularframework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 5 wherein: said casing hasa netting hanging from the goal or the 360 degree internal space withinthe center hoop/goal of the structure.
 12. The inflatable tubularframework sports hoop,/basket,/goal of claim 1 further comprising: aplurality of flaps projecting from said casing to receive means foranchoring said sports goal in a desired position.
 13. The sports goal ofclaim 1 further comprising: having ballast attached to each leg of saidsports goal consisting of water, sand, or any heavy material to helpanchor said sports goal.
 14. Inflatable tubular framework sportshoop,/basket,/goal, of claim 1 wherein: a valve means disposed andstructured to permit inflation and deflation of the structure.